How To Tame Your Spring Allergies

Runny nose, itchy eyes, brain-rattling sneezes … ah, spring has sprung!

Allergy and clinical immunology specialists Frank Eidelman, MD, and DeVon Preston, MD, explain what can make spring allergies so brutal — and how you can manage all that sneezing, wheezing, itching and sniffling.

Why your allergies are so bad in the spring

What is it about spring that makes your allergies go wild? Typically, it comes down to pollen and drastic temperature swings.

Temperate climates usually see three basic pollen seasons:

• Spring is tree pollen time.
• Summer is when grass pollen pops up.
• Fall is known for weed pollen and mold.

“When we talk about spring allergies, we’re talking about tree pollen,” Dr. Eidelman says.

So, if your allergies flare most in spring, it’s probably trees to blame.

But in parts of the world that have a four-season climate, those seasons can overlap. That’s a double-whammy for folks who are allergic to, say, tree and grass pollens, Dr. Preston points out. When trees are in bloom in spring and so, too, is grass, things can get extra sniffly.

In most of the U.S., that’s from about February through June. But in some places, pollen season can last much longer. If you live somewhere without cold winter weather or frost to stop trees and plants from producing pollen, spring allergy seasons can drag far beyond the typical spring months.

Spring is also a time when the temperatures start to break. And those swings can make spring allergies hit hard.

Here’s why: “When you don’t have consistent temperatures, pollination stops and starts. So, a lot of allergens compound on each other,” Dr. Preston explains.

What’s more, drier air helps carry allergens. So, on dry, windy days, your spring allergies can hit full force.

Blame climate change, too. If you feel like your spring allergies are increasingly frustrating, you’re not imagining it.

“With climate change, spring pollination has gotten worse in the last 10 to 20 years,” Dr. Eidelman notes. “As the seasons get hotter, we’re seeing more pollen, and longer and more intense pollination seasons, and an uptick in spring allergy symptoms. This seems to be a worldwide trend.”

Spring allergy symptoms

Some of the most common symptoms of spring allergies are:

• Head congestion. Think stuffy or runny nose, sinus pain and headaches.
• Coughing. And with coughing — in people with allergic asthma — wheezing or shortness of breath.
• Irritated eyes. They might be red, itchy, swollen or watery.
• Sore throat: Postnasal drip can make your throat feel dry, scratchy or sore. It can even make it painful to swallow.
• Itchiness. Some spring allergies can make you erupt in contact dermatitis, which comes with an itchy rash, blisters or swelling. That’s most common for people when they come into direct contact with an allergen.
• Fatigue and brain fog. Spring allergies can make it tough to concentrate and make you extra sleepy.

Spring allergies can significantly affect your quality of life.

“They can really make you miserable. Your eyes get itchy and swollen, your nose is congested, you sneeze a lot and your lungs can become irritated,” Dr. Eidelman acknowledges. “And further along the spectrum, the severity can become disabling. You can’t get out of bed, you can’t sleep, you can’t focus on your work — it can be intense.”

How to manage spring allergies

Now, for the good news: Allergy medications and some changes to your routine can help keep your spring allergies from ruining your season.

Dr. Eidelman and Dr. Preston share their top tips for managing spring allergies.

1. Choose proper spring allergy medications

Over-the-counter allergy medications are a nice-to-have for some people, and a must-have for others. But what works best for you may vary. And you have options. Like:

• Antihistamines. These daily medications are most often recommended for basic spring allergy symptoms like itching, sneezing or runny nose.
• Steroid nasal sprays. These are likely your best options for nasal congestion, postnasal drip and sinus pressure. But they don’t work immediately. Consider starting them a few weeks before spring allergy season begins.
• Decongestants (maybe). A decongestant like Sudafed® (pseudoephedrine) can also help. But they’re not for everyone. “I don’t recommend regular use of decongestants for people with heart problems or people over 40,” Dr. Eidelman advises.

If you aren’t getting the relief you need from those options — or you’re trying to reduce your reliance on medications — it may be time to talk to a healthcare provider about allergy shots.

“Allergy immunotherapy is the only treatment that has the potential to cure allergic rhinitis,” Dr. Eidelman clarifies.

2. Close the windows

Sure, that spring breeze can feel good. But it also invites pollen in. Keep your home and car windows closed whenever possible during spring allergy season. When you’re in your car, switch your air conditioning to recirculation mode.

3. Keep your air clean

Select an allergy-reducing HVAC filter for your home and change it according to the package directions to operate at peak efficiency. That can go a long way toward minimizing spring allergens in your home.

An air purifier may help, too. And air purifiers are a good idea for everyone, not just folks who struggle with spring allergies. If you only have one, keep it in your bedroom.

4. Do some spring cleaning

Tidying up may not always spark joy, but a good clean-up can help clear out the allergens. It’s especially important to keep your sheets clean as spring comes. You may even find cleaning your home improves your mood.

5. Keep your pets clean

Guess what the cat dragged in? Pollen. Lots of it.

If your pet spends time outdoors, their fur/hair/feathers/scales will collect pollen, dirt and all sorts of other irritants. Keeping your pet groomed helps reduce that buildup.

Pet stores carry wipes you can use to clean them up after a romp in the great outdoors. Not only will it help keep you feeling good, but it may also help alleviate their spring allergies, too!

If you can bear it, it’s also best to keep your pets out of your bedroom (and, definitely, out of your bed) as much as possible.

6. Shower when you come home

Fido isn’t the only one bringing the outdoors in. Showering every day is a good rule of thumb anyway. But during allergy season, it’s extra important to keep your skin clean.

Of course, taking the time to wash off the (literal) remains of the day is only helpful if you change into clean clothing.

“Allergy symptoms typically last as long as the exposure lasts,” Dr. Preston points out. “So, once you remove the exposure, your symptoms start to improve.”

7. Saline sprays and neti pots

Neti pots, nasal rinses and nasal mists can provide relief if you’re looking for medicine-free ways to treat your allergies.

They use salt water to help to flush out your nasal cavity. That can keep pollen and other spring allergens from hanging around in your sinuses.

8. Beware of unproven remedies

Dr. Preston notes that there are some common natural remedies for allergies that people swear by, like raw honey or stinging nettle tea.

But they haven’t been proven and probably aren’t your best first-line defense against spring allergies.

“We haven’t done a ton of studies on these remedies,” Dr. Preston acknowledges. “I can’t guarantee their efficacy. But the history is there. Some natural remedies have been in existence for hundreds, if not thousands of years. And some people get better. I just can’t really support them because the evidence is not there.”

Dr. Eidelman warns us to be especially careful with herbal remedies. “People who are allergic to plants need to be cautious about using herbal remedies. They can actually make things worse.”

For example, people who are allergic to ragweed may have serious allergic reactions to echinacea, a common immune stimulant. This herbal product comes from the purple coneflower — a close relative of ragweed.

With that example in mind, Dr. Eidelman adds: “Just because something’s natural, doesn’t mean it’s safe and doesn’t mean that you’re not going to be allergic to it.”

9. Know when to see a healthcare provider

Spring allergies are so common that you may not have considered seeing a healthcare provider about them.

But you don’t have to grin and bear it. There are plenty of reasons your springtime sniffles may be worth discussing with a provider.

“If you’ve tried taking medicines and adjusting your lifestyle, then getting tested to know what you’re allergic to and what treatments are most likely to be effective is a good idea,” Dr. Preston encourages.

“What’s more, if the medicines aren’t helping, there are other conditions that look and sound like allergies — but aren’t allergies — that we should rule out.”